Today it was reported that 144,000 people fled the state of California in 2008 and the dream many spent most of there lives chasing after is grittier or a fleeting memory. Now in a state of 38 million that isn't a huge number, but it's the why they left, as to the where it will continue to spiral for some time to come...
* 8.4% unemployment rate in November.
* 236,000 projected foreclosures.
* last month a 100,000 jobs were lost in the state, one cause is 2000 public works jobs cancelled because the state couldn't afford $16 million towards them. And yet "arnold" says we need to build more schools, roads, and transit.. (see tax increases coming)
* California facing over 18 months a $41.6 billion dollar budget hole that is predicting raising taxes, cuts in education and postponed tax rebates. No fiscal responsibility by lawmakers who have more than enough money to cover what is required, but they waste more than they take it.. it's not a surprise that we can all understand what the legislature can't comprehend, that's no way to run a budget. somebody has to do without and they always pick education, highways, and public safety. these become buzz words for why they need to raise taxes.. The Constitution was written with government providing these things as first and foremost.
* the median price of a home has nose-dived one third from the 2006 peak. Most median priced homes are out of reach for the middle class. Many children can't consider buying a home in the community they grew up in.
* The housing market eliminated $1 trillion in wealth.
* dead end public schools.
* unchecked illegal immigrations.
* clogged traffic has robbed CA. of its allure.
An interviewer was speaking with an 38 yr old engineer who is seeing his wages go down and his cost of living going up, is moving to Denver Colorado and has a house purchase in the works. He's selling his 3 bdrm home in Nipomo about 80 miles north of coastal Santa Barbara where his yearly property taxes will go from $4300 to $1300. A substantial beginning to downsizing the family budget.
We know alot of people who over the last few years who have picked up and moved to some different states of Colorado, Idaho, Oregon in order to be able to one get out of the concrete jungle where they have family and friends, but yet the ability to "breathe" while living has been realized. For some they have lured some of there family and friends to join them in the adventure and so that does make it easier. Some of us are thinking that's an alternative we'd keep open, but for now can't make the leap and are glad we bought our homes alooooong time ago and are still "breathing" here in CA while we make a living and a life. But for many we know who are in the struggle that has them trying to hang on while having to make some hard changes to lifestyle or location possibly to start over we keep praying for good resolutions whatever way it needs to work out.
I remember decades ago when many Califonians moved to Oregon and boy was there a ground swell of anger from the invasion. The Californians were mistrusted and ridiculed for the move. There was no welcome committee dropping by with a basket of goodies and a handshake.. Well, get ready here it goes again...
1 comment:
Isn't it funny how maybe we could fix the budget and have money in the black and have no need for all the "government programs" if all the illegals weren't here and all their "legal" children clogging up our schools. For all the money they "spend" and "services" they provide doesn't measure up to the amount that they take from us and our children. (oh yeah, that wouldn't help the politicians though) I wish we moved out of state when we had the chance.
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